new years boat party

Celebrate New Year’s Eve on a Boat: 4 Tips to Start Planning

Written by Boatsetter Team
December 20, 2023

Everybody loves the holidays, but let’s face it. After a few days at home with the family for Christmas, you’re ready for something a little more exciting. Instead of watching the ball drop on TV or heading to your local bar, why not shake it up with a little New Year’s Eve boat party! There is no better way to ring in the new year than from than sipping a little champagne, surrounded by your best crew on the water. Here are four tips to help get your New Year’s boat party on it’s feet:

  1. Rent a boat
  2. Finding the perfect location
  3. Book a boat and captain
  4. Create a New Year’s Eve playlist

Start planning your New Year’s Eve celebration with Boatsetter 

1. Rent a boat

Depending on where you live, there may already be a New Year’s boat party going on. These are usually pretty huge events put on by club promoters and usually feature a solid DJ lineup and a few thousand people. Thanks for the sharing economy, you don’t need to own a boat to throw a party on one! If you’re looking to escape the crowds and party with your best crew, you might want to rent a boat to throw your own New Year’s Eve boat party.

On Boatsetter, you can see available boats near you, or wherever you want to be on New Year’s Eve. You can also find a variety of boat types and style. Want to throw a Great Gatsby soiree? Check out the yachts. Feeling like throwing something a little more casual? Check out the party boats.

Pro tip: Add-ons are essentials you can tack-on for an up-charge. Scroll down the boat listing to see if the Owner offers Add-ons. Use Add-ons to cross off party essentials such as Ice and/or Cooler (Ice Chest).

2. Finding the perfect location

Picking the perfect spot for a New Year’s Eve boat bash is all about nailing those awesome vibes. First off, scope out a place with killer views—think city skylines, fireworks, or cool landmarks to jazz up the party scene. Make sure it’s easy for everyone to hop on and off the boat, so no one’s stuck in a tricky boarding situation. Keep an eye on the weather, too; nobody wants a soggy celebration, right? Choose a spot close to the action, where you can cruise by popular New Year’s Eve shindigs. Use our post on 6 Best Places to Spend New Year’s Eve on a Boat to find the perfect on-the-water location for your New Year’s Eve boat party.

3. Book a boat and captain

Even if you have boating experience, New Year’s Eve is probably a day where you want to give that responsibility to someone else. Like, a captain. This is where Boatsetter truly comes in handy. You can filter your search to see available captained boats. Boatsetter captains are also local experts that can help you with finding the best location on the water. They’re there to  help you make this experience truly memorable.

4. Create a New Year’s Eve playlist

Unless you’ve got the budget to hire a DJ, or you happen to have a DJ friend willing to spin the discs on New Year’s Eve, you probably want to create a music playlist. Putting together the ultimate playlist for your New Year’s Eve boat bash is all about dialing in those feel-good vibes. Start with some upbeat jams to get the energy flowing as your boat sets sail into the night. Throw in a mix of crowd-pleasers, from the latest bops to some classic anthems that’ll have everyone singing along.

Don’t forget to sprinkle in a few dance-floor bangers to keep the party grooving. And since it’s New Year’s Eve, sneak in some countdown-worthy tunes that’ll have everyone pumped for the big moment. Consider your audience, toss in a bit of everything, and let the music be the captain of this party ship. Whether it’s hip-hop, pop, or a bit of rock, make sure the beats match the vibe, and you’ll have a soundtrack that sets the stage for an epic celebration on the high seas.

About us 

Boatsetter is the go-to app for boat rentals and on-water experiences. Whatever the adventure, we’ve got a boat for that—Set sail, start the party, go yachting, make your trophy catch, and hone your watersports skills! Download the Boatsetter app (App Store | Google Play). Make sure to follow @boatsetter on Instagram, and tag us in all your boat day pictures for the chance to be featured.

Rent. List. Share—Only at Boatsetter 


Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Dec. 2018 and updated in Dec. 2023.


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